04 Oct 07

Two physicists from Oxford University are to receive awards from the Institute of Physics (IOP) as part of the 2008 IOP Awards.

Professor Roger Cowley is to receive the Faraday Medal of the Institute of Physics (formerly known as the Guthrie Medal), an award made annually for an individual’s outstanding contribution to experimental physics. Professor Cowley is Dr Lee's Professor of Experimental Philosophy in the Clarendon Laboratory at the University of Oxford and was formerly Chairman of Physics at Oxford. The award is in recognition of his achievements over a long and distinguished career. During this time he has conducted pioneering work in the development and application of neutron and X-ray scattering techniques. He has applied these techniques to the study of a wide range of materials including magnetic materials and thin films – materials with many industrial applications.

Professor John Chalker is to receive the inaugural Rayleigh Medal and prize, an award made annually for distinguished research in theoretical, mathematical or computational physics. Professor Chalker is Professor of Physics in the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics at the University of Oxford. The award is for his innovative contributions to solid-state physics, particularly in the area of exotic quantum phenomena.

Professor Roger Davies, Chairman of Physics at Oxford, said: ‘I am delighted that the IOP has recognised Professor Cowley’s outstanding experimental work. Roger is an internationally-recognised leader in neutron and X-ray scattering and richly deserves this award, which is a fitting climax to his career. It is fitting that the IOP has made John Chalker the first recipient of the new Rayleigh award as his groundbreaking work on quantum effects has given a significant boost to physics research at Oxford.’

Both award-winners thanked their collaborators from Oxford and elsewhere who have aided them in their work. Professor Chalker commented: ‘It has been an especial pleasure to work with the extremely talented graduate students and postdoctoral research fellows attracted by Oxford’s reputation for innovative approaches to physics.’

The Institute of Physics’ (IOP) 2008 awards were announced on 3 October 2007. This year 10 new awards have been introduced to ensure that the awards scheme keeps pace with the research interests of the physics community. The awards recognise a broad range of physicists in fields as diverse as biological physics, particle physics and astrophysics.